Creel for textile machines

ABSTRACT

Creel assembly for textile machines includes a creel having a coil-carrying frame mounted on one or more carriages movable out of a stationary portion of the creel, thread takeup means for winding a bunch of threads extending thereto from coils carried on the frame and through a front side of the stationary creel portion, and a device located between the front side of the stationary creel portion and the thread takeup means for raising at least part of the thread bunch to a height above the coilcarrying frame whereby the carriages are movable beneath the raised thread bunch and past the front side of the stationary creel portion.

United States Patent lnventor Stefan Furst Monchengladbach, Germany Appl. No. 768,242 Filed Oct. 17, 1968 Patented Apr. 20, 1971 Assignee Walter Reiners Monchengladbach, Germany Priority Oct. 18, 1967 Germany R47159 CREEL FOR TEXTILE MACHINES 12 Claims, 9 Drawing Figs.

US. Cl 242/131, 28/32 Int. Cl B65h 49/02, D03j 5/08, D02h l/OO Field of Search 242/ l 3 l,

Primary Examiner-Leonard D. Christian Att0rneys-Curt M. Avery, Arthur E. Wilfond, Herbert L.

Lerner and Daniel J. Tick ABSTRACT: Creel assembly for textile machines includes a creel having a coil-carrying frame mounted on one or more carriages movable out of a stationary portion of the creel, thread takeup means for winding a bunch of threads extending thereto from coils carried on the frame and through a front side of the stationary creel portion, and a device located between the front side of the stationary creel portion and the thread takeup means for raising at least part of the thread bunch to a height above the coil-carrying frame whereby the carriages are movable beneath the raised thread bunch and past the front side of the stationary creel portion.

Patented April 20, 1971 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Patented April 20, 1971 3,515,559

5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented April 20, 1971 3,575,359

5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Patented April 20, 1971 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 CiitiEiEiL son TEXTIBUE MACllliiNlES My invention relates to a creel for textile machines and, more particularly, to a creel having a coil-carrying frame mounted on one or more displaceable carriages.

A creel has already been described in German Pat. No. 352,713, which has a coil-carrying frame mounted on one or more displaceable creel carriages in order, on the one hand, to permit rapid exchange of the supply coils, and, on the other hand, to mount new supply coils on the coil-carrying frame outside of a stationary part of the creel, for example directly at the spinning machine where the supply coils are wound. A disadvantage of this known device is that the mounting of the coils on the coil-carrying frame requires a relatively large amount of space, since the creel carn'ageor trolley must be run out of the stationary creel part in a direction away from the side thereof facing the thread takeup device i.e. toward the rear of the stationary creel part, and must also be run into the stationary creel part from that same side. A considerable disadvantage as to time is connected therewith in that a creel carriage filled with replenished coils can be run into the stationary creel part only after the cam'age previously located therein has been completely run out of the same.

it is accordingly an object of my invention to provide creel assembly for textile machines wherein the coil-carrying frame is mounted on one or more carriages movable out of a stationary portion of the creel which avoids the foregoing disadvantages of known creel assemblies of this type and which more particularly affords a more rapid exchange of supply coils and requires less space to effect the exchange.

With the foregoing and other objects in view l provide creel assembly for textile machines comprising a creel having a coilcarrying frame mounted on one or more carriages movable out of a stationary portion of the creel, thread takeup means for winding a bunch of threads extending thereto from coils carried on the frame and through a front side of the stationary creel portion opposing the thread takeup means, and a device located between the front side of the stationary creel portion and the thread takeup means for raising at least part of the thread bunch to a height above the coil-carrying frame whereby the carriages are displaceable beneath the raised thread bunch and past the front side of the stationary creel portion.

Thus the carriages can be run out of and into the stationary creel portion from the side thereof opposing the thread takeup means. in accordance with the creel assembly of my invention, therefore, it is possible to maintain the thread bunch extending from the creel to the thread takeup means and still effect an exchange of the creel carriage at the front side of the stationary creel portion located opposite or facing toward the thread takeup means.

The creel assembly of the invention offers the advantage of being space saving, since the rear side of the stationary creel portion facing away from the thread takeup means can be moved, under certain conditions, so that it is up tight against an interior wall. The creel assembly of the invention also offers a considerable advantage as to timesaving when considered in respect to the heretofore known devices of this general type by providing, in accordance with a further feature of the invention, a path or track leading out of the stationary creel portion from both the front and rear sides thereof, and preferably closed upon itself, whereon the creel carriage is able to travel. it is thereby possible for example to run the empty creel carriage forwardly out of the front side of the stationary creel portion and to simultaneously run the filled creel carriage from the rear side of the stationary creel portion into the same or vice versa. in this manner, the time expended for exchanging the creel carriages is reduced to less than half that required for the heretofore known creel assemblies of this type. Also with this feature of my invention, a space advantage with respect to the heretofore known devices can be attained, because in this case, the path or track Beading from the rear side into the stationary creel portion can be so disposed as to afford a great saving of space.

To raise the threads extending from the creel to the thread takeup device of my invention, there can be provided, for example, a device which can drop down into the floor and be driven out therefrom pneumatically, hydraulically or electrically so as to suitably raise the bunch of threads. A device that is particularly simple, however, is one in which a rod pivotally mounted on the front side of the stationary creel portion serves for raising the threads. Independently of whether the rod serving to raise the threads according to the aforementioned construction is able to drop down into the floor or is pivotally mounted on the front side of the stationary creel portion, it is advantageous in accordance with another feature of my invention to provide rises or depressions on at least that part of the surface of the rod which faces the threads being raised, so as to separate the threads thereon. These rises or depressions can be formed for example by needles or notches in the surface of the rod. in addition, the rises or depressions in the surface of the rod can also be effected by providing annular grooves distributed along the rod or providing the rod with a screw-shaped surface.

If the thread takeup means is provided with a comb having upwardly extending tines or teeth, care must be taken that the threads do not slide out of the spaces between the comb teeth as the thread bunch traveling therethrough is being raised. For this purpose, the comb teeth can be lengthened, for example, or the comb proper so disposed that it can be raised and lowered. it is especially advantageous in accordance with another feature of my invention to provide the comb of the thread takeup means with a locking device which fixes the threads in the spaces between the comb teeth when the thread bunch is raised. The fixing of the threads in the comb spaces can be effected for example by placing a locking strip on the teeth of the comb. If the comb is a so-called step comb e.g. a comb having teeth of graduated length, it is advantageous to provide a locking device for fixing the threads in the comb which comprises a deflecting strip in front of the comb by means of which at least the threads running into the comb from above are fixed at a predetermined entering angle independently of how steeply the threads in front of the deflecting strip run to the comb. If this deflecting strip and the device for raising the thread bunch are adjustably constructed, they can operate simultaneously as a clamping device so that the threads are firmly clamped thereby in front of the comb. This has the advantage, on the one hand, that the threads cannot be raised out of the spaces between the comb teeth, and on the other hand, even for the exchange of the winding beam in the takeup means, the threads are fixed and cannot be mixed up. There is thus provided at the thread takeup means, in accordance with yet another feature of my invention, a clamping device automatically operative when the thread bunch is raised. This clamping device can be advantageous not only for open combs but also for closed combs.

The large space requirement of the aforementioned heretofore known devices results furthermore from the fact that the coil-carrying frame which is run out of the creel must be accessible on both sides thereof so as to be festooned with coils by the servicing personnel. This disadvantage of the heretofore known devices is avoided by providing, in accordance with an additional feature of my invention, a coilcarrying frame which is mounted on the creel carriage so that it is pivotable about a vertical shaft. In accordance with an added feature of the invention, the vertical shaft is located substantially in the middle of the coil-carrying frame.

Other features which are considered as characteristic for the invention are set forth in the appended claims.

Although the invention is illustrated and described herein as embodied in creel for textile machines, it is nevertheless not intended to be limited to the details shown, since various modifications and structural changes may be made therein without departing from the spirit of the invention and within the scope and range of equivalents of the claims.

The construction and method of operation of the invention, however, together with additional objects and advantages thereof will be best understood from the following description of specific embodiments when read in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of a creel assembly with a beam warping machine constructed in accordance with my invention;

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a view corresponding to that of FIG. I with the creel carriages omitted and showing in greater detail the device for raising and fixing the thread bunch;

FIGS. 4 and 5 are a top plan view and an end view, respectively, of the thread bunch raising device of the preceding FIGS.;

FIGS. 6 and 7 are sectional views respectively taken along the lines VI-VI and VII-VII in the direction of the arrows of a device for fixing the thread in the spaces between the comb teeth as well as for firmly clamping the thread bunches upon actuation of the raising device of the preceding FIGS.; and

FIGS. 8 and 9 are front elevational and top plan views of another embodiment of the creel carriage shown in FIGS. 1 and 2.

Referring now to the drawings and first particularly to FIG. 1 thereof, there is shown a creel formed of a stationary creel portion 1 and a coil-carrying frame 2 mounted on two trolleys or carriages 3a and 3!; that can be run out of the stationary creel portion 1. Threads drawn off the individual coils 4 are passed in a conventional manner through tensioners and deflecting members to the schematically shown thread takeup device 5 wherein they run initially through a comb 6 and over a deflecting roller 7 to a winding beam 8.

Between the stationary creel portion I and the takeup device 5, a rod 9 is pivotally mounted on the front side la of the stationary creel portion. This rod 9 is shown in FIG. I in its outermost pivoted position so that it is clearly apparent how the individual threads of the thread bunch f, coming from the creel, run over the rod 9 to the comb 6 of the thread takeup device 5. The normal thread path is indicated by the dot-dash lines f. As soon as the thread bunch f is raised by the rod 9 to the position shown in FIG. I, the threads f" (FIG. 2) leading from the coils 4 to the stationary creel portion I are severed and the creel carriages 3a and 3b are run toward the front side Ia of the stationary creel portion I out of the latter and new creel carriages with filled supply coils 4 are run into the stationary creel portion I.

In the plan view of FIG. 2 there can again be seen the stationary creel portion 1 with the two creel carriages 3a and 3b as well as the thread bunch f, leading to the comb 6 of the takeup device 5. The thread bunch f is represented in FIG. 2 only by the outer threads thereof located both on the right and left sides (the upper and lower sides as shown in FIG. 2). Between the creel and the beam warping machine 5, there is again seen the rod 9, which serves to raise the thread bunch f and which, in the drawn-out form shown in FIG. 2, only raises one side of the thread bunch f so that the creel carriages 3a and 3b can be run out of the stationary creel portion 1 under the thread bunch f along the path represented by the extended line 10. Two creel carriages 3c and 3d studded with full supply coils can meanwhile be simultaneously run into the stationary creel portion 1 from the rear side thereof (the right hand side of FIG. 2) along the closed path 10. Thus, an exceptionally rapid exchange of creel carriages is possible without requiring the direction of travel of the creel carriages to be reversed. If desired, the path or track 10 can also be interrupted, for example, at the location Illa and it is possible that even the one-half can run toward the other side of the stationary creel portion 1 in accordance with the dot-dash line 10b. In this case, although there is the advantage of rapid exchange of the creel carriages nevertheless the disadvantage of having to reverse the travel direction of the carriages must be put up with. In the case where space saving is more important than speed of creel carriage exchange, it is possible to run the creel carriages out of and back into the stationary creel portion 1 through the front side thereof by providing, for example, a

switch 11 over which creel carriages 3e (only one shown in FIG. 2) which are located on a side of the assembly is run into the stationary creel portion 1 along the track represented by the dotted line 12. Obviously the track 12 can extend symmetrically to the track 10, whereby this track 10, for example, ends at the end of the location of the creel carriage 3d. It is also possible likewise to arrange the track 10 symmetrically to the track 12. In the case where the creel carriages are to be passed over the track 12, it is necessary also to raise the other side of the thread bunch f. For this purpose, the rod 9 is provided with an extension 9a, shown in dotted lines, so as to underly the entire width of the thread bunch f.

In FIG. 3, there is shown more clearly that part of FIG. I which relates to the raising of the thread bunch f by means of the rod 9, and the simultaneous fixing of the threads in the spaces between the comb teeth. For greater viewing clarity, the creel carriages have been omitted from FIG. 3. Only one of the threads extending from the creel over the rod 9 to the beam warping machine is shown in the FIG. FIG. 3 clearly shows again the rod 9 which is pivotally secured by means of a bearing 13 on the front side Ia of the stationary creel portion 1 so as to raise at least one part of the thread bunch f. To transfer the rod 9 from the dot-dash position thereof shown in FIG. 3 to the outstretched solid line position thereof, the rod 9 is pivotally connected to an end of a lever arm 14 whose other end is engaged by one end of a rod 15, the other end of which is rotatably mounted in a lever 16. The lever 16 is rigidly connected to a handle 17 and is turnably secured to a bracket fixed to and extending from the front side In of the stationary creel portion 1. In the position shown in FIG. 3, the lever arm 16, for example, abuts a stop member so that the rod 9 is automatically fixed in position. If the handle 17 is pivoted counterclockwise, as viewed in FIG. 3, the rod 9 can be lowered into the position thereof shown in dot-dash lines.

At the front side la of the stationary creel portion 1, there is provided a pushbutton 18 which is actuated by the rod 9 when it reaches the dot-dash position thereof to break the circuit of an electric current source 19. The current source 19 serves for energizing an electromagnet having an armature that is connected with a strip or slat 21, which serves for fixing the threads in the spaces between the comb teeth when the thread bunch is raised, and simultaneously acts as an automatically operative clamping device for the threads when the thread bunch is raised, so that the threads cannot slide out of the beam warping machine 5 when the winding beam 8 is exchanged.

FIGS. 4 to 7 serve to explain components of FIG. 3.

In FIG. 4, the rod 9 for raising the thread bunch f is shown in plan view. One can note in this FIG., the mounting of the lever 9 by means of the schematically indicated bearing 13 on the nonillustrated front side of the stationary creel portion, as well as the end of the lever arm 14 that is connected to the rod 9. In FIG. 5, which is an end view of FIG. 4, it can be seen that the arm 9 is supposed to be in the raised position thereof corresponding to that shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. The surface of the rod 9 facing or in engagement with the threads f is provided with needles 9b, between which the threads f pass so that separation of the threads f is maintained even when the thread bunch is raised. In FIG. 2, an analogous function is provided by notches or depressions 9 formed in the surface of the rod.

FIGS. 6 and 7 show two sectional views illustrating the locking and clamping device for fixing and clamping the threads when the thread bunch is raised by the rod 9. As aforementioned FIG. 7 is a sectional view taken along the line VII-VII of FIG. 6 and is much enlarged over the view thereof at the left-hand side of FIG. 3. FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken along the line VI-Vl in FIG. 7.

FIGS. 6 and 7 are seen a step-shaped comb e.g. a comb with teeth of graduated length, of the takeup device 5, which is secured in a comb carrier 6a that is in turn mounted conventionally in the frame of the takeup pr winding device 5.

The strip 21 for fixing and firmly clamping the threads within the comb 6 when the thread hunch is raised is formed of a tube, as shown in the illustrated embodiment, whose end 21a is mounted by means of a rod or armature 22 in the comb carrier 64 so that the tube 21 can be raised and lowered. A spring 23 serves for raising the strip 21 for a given distance until an abutment collar 24 disposed on the rod 22 engages the comb carrier 6a from below as shown inFlGS. 6 and 7. An electromagnet serves for lowering the strip 21. Since in accordance with the view shown in FIG. 3 it is assumed that the rod 9 is located in the outwardly swung position, the pushbutton 18 has closed the circuit of the current source 19 and has energized the electromagnet 20. The rod 22 is consequently drawn in and the strip 21 is pressed against the comb carrier 60 in front of the comb i.e. the right-hand side of FIG. 7,against the biasing action of the helical spring 23. Thereby, on the one hand,'the threads are fixed in the spaces between the comb teeth and cannot slide upwardly out of the comb 6 and, on the other hand, the thread bunch is also clamped between the strip 21 and the comb carrier 6a so that it can also not slide out when the beam 8 is exchanged.

If the tubular strip 21 deflects a part of the threads also in the raised position thereof, it can be advantageous to mount the tubular strip 21 so that it is rotatable about its longitudinal axis. In the embodiment of FIGQ6, the end 21a of the strip 21 is secured by a screw 25 to the rod 22. When the opposite, nonillustrated end of the strip 21 is connected in a conventional manner by means of a hinge with the corresponding rod 22, the strip 21 can be swung upwardly by loosening the screw 25 so as to facilitate the insertion of the threads in the comb 6.

in FIGS. 8 and 9, there is shown a respective side elevational and top plan view of a creel carriage which is particularly advantageous for the creel assembly according to my invention, because it permits a space saving construction of the creel can'iage for the purpose of mounting new coils thereon.

ln FIGS. 8 and 9 there are again shown the supply coils 4, shown diagrammatically in FIG. 1, which are mounted securely on the coil-carrying frame 2. The middle of the coilcarrying frame 2 is in the form of a vertical shaft 20 mounted on the creel carriage 3 by means of a conventional bearing 3] so that it is rotatable about its longitudinal axis and so that .the entire coil-carrying frame 2 can be pivoted thereabout in the direction of the arcuate arrow A as shown in FIG. 9. Conventional devices not shown in the drawing can be employed for fixing the coil-carrying frame 2 in a predetennined position with respect to the creel carriage 3. In the illustrated embodiment of FIGS. 8 and 9, the creel carriage 3 is mounted on rollers capable of traveling along the track) shown in FIG. 2. This track 10 can accordingly pass through a rail-shaped guide of the rollers 32 and/or through a guide located above the coil-carrying frame 2. It is even possible to suspend the creel carriage from a rail located above the coil-carrying frame 2.

lclaim:

l. Creel assembly for textile machines comprising a creel having a coil-carrying frame, on at least one creel carriage movable out of a stationary portion of the creel, thread takeup means for winding a bunch of threads extending thereto from coils carried on said frame and through a front side of said stationary creel portion opposing said thread takeup means, and a device located between the front side of said stationary creel portion and said thread takeup means for raising at least part of the thread bunch to a height above said coil-carrying frame whereby said carriage is movable beneath the raised thread bunch and past the front side of said stationary creel portion.

2. Creel assembly according to claim 1 wherein said device comprises a rod pivotally mounted the front side of said stationary creel portion.

.3. Creel assembly according to claim 2 wherein at least the surface of said rod engageable with the threads is provided with a plurality of space raised portions for separating the threads.

4. Creel assembly according to claim 2 wherein at least the surface of said rod engageable with the threads is provided with a plurality of spaced depressions for separating the threads.

5. Creel assembly according to claim 1 wherein said thread takeup means comprises a comb for separating the threads of the bunch being wound, and a locking device actuable in response to the raising of the thread bunch for fixing the threads in the spaces between the teeth of the comb.

6. Creel assembly according to claim 1 including a clamping device at said thread takeup means, said clamping device being actuable in response to the raising of the thread bunch.

7. Creel assembly according to claim 6 wherein said clamping device is actuable automatically in response to the raising of the thread bunch.

8. Creel assembly according to claim 1 including track means extending out of the front and rear sides of said stationary creel portion, said creel carriage being mounted on said track means and movable therealong.

9. Creel assembly according to claim 8 wherein said track means comprises a track closed upon itself.

10. Creel assembly according to claim 1 wherein said coilcarrying frame has a substantially vertical axis and is rotatable about said axis with respect to said creel carriage.

l1. Creel assembly according to claim 10 wherein said axis is located in the middle of the coil-carrying frame.

12. Creel assembly according to claim 10 wherein said axis extends along a rotatable shaft forming part of said coilcarrying frame. 

1. Creel assembly for textile machines comprising a creel having a coil-carrying frame, on at least one creel carriage movable out of a stationary portion of the creel, thread takeup means for winding a bunch of threads extending thereto from coils carried on said frame and through a front side of said stationary creel portion opposing said thread takeup means, and a device located between the front side of said stationary creel portion and said thread takeup means for raising at least part of the thread bunch to a height above said coil-carrying frame whereby said carriage is movable beneath the raised thread bunch and past the front side of said stationary creel portion.
 2. Creel assembly according to claim 1 wherein said device comprises a rod pivotally mounted the front side of said stationary creel portion.
 3. Creel assembly according to claim 2 wherein at least the surface of said rod engageable with the threads is provided with a plurality of spaced raised portions for separating the threads.
 4. Creel assembly according to claim 2 wherein at least the surface of said rod engageable with the threads is provided with a plurality of spaced depressions for separating the threads.
 5. Creel assembly according to claim 1 wherein said thread takeup means comprises a comb for separating the threads of the bunch being wound, and a locking device actuable in response to the raising of the thread bunch for fixing the threads in the spaces between the teeth of the comb.
 6. Creel assembly according to claim 1 including a clamping device at said thread takeup means, said clamping device being actuable in response to the raising of the thread bunch.
 7. Creel assembly according to claim 6 wherein said clamping device is actuable automatically in response to the raising of the thread bunch.
 8. Creel assembly according to claim 1 including track means extending out of the front and rear sides of said stationary creel portion, said creel carriage being mounted on said track means and movable therealong.
 9. Creel assembly according to claim 8 wherein said track means compRises a track closed upon itself.
 10. Creel assembly according to claim 1 wherein said coil-carrying frame has a substantially vertical axis and is rotatable about said axis with respect to said creel carriage.
 11. Creel assembly according to claim 10 wherein said axis is located in the middle of the coil-carrying frame.
 12. Creel assembly according to claim 10 wherein said axis extends along a rotatable shaft forming part of said coil-carrying frame. 